Billericay Town 1 Hendon 0 (From Times Series)

Billericay Town 1 Hendon 0

8:06am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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Hendon were left feeling very frustrated after conceding a goal in the third minute of stoppage time to lose 1-0 at Billericay Town on Tuesday evening in a game that saw both sides reduced to ten men.

The Greens were down to the bare bones, with just one outfield substitute fit enough to take part in the game. There was just one change to the starting line up, with Kevin Maclaren replacing Scott Cousins, who pulled up injured during the warm up. Cousins was named on the bench, but was never going to take any part in the game.

The first half was played at a high tempo, with both sides playing some good one touch football, but with little end product. The first chance of the game came after 7 minutes when Lee O'Leary met a corner with his head, and forced Paul Nicholls into a low save.

At the other end, Billericay's first chance fell to Danny Green, who was involved in much of the home side's best play. However, his 15th minute effort flew comfortably wide of the target.

Ten minutes later, a fine one touch passing move ended with Jamie Busby firing wide. Billericay immediately broke away to the other end, but Simon Thomas's run was stopped by a superb tackle from James Parker.

Berkley Laurencin made two good saves in the first half, the best coming from a fierce drive from Reece Prestedge shortly before half-time.

The opening twenty minutes of the second period can be best described as fast and frantic, but totally devoid of any clear cut chances.

In the 68th minute Billericay were the first side to be reduced to ten men when Michael Shinn received his second caution of the evening.

Four minutes later, Anthony Thomas, who had been largely disappointing, hit a curling shot which Nicholls failed to hold at the first attempt. However, the experienced keeper managed to smother the ball before Busby could fire the ball home.

Hendon's other decent chance of the half came in the 83rd minute, when a strike from Peter Dean took a deflection and Nicholls was able to make a comfortable save.

Six minutes from time, it was Hendon's turn to see red. Dave Diedhiou, who had received a harsh booking a few minutes previously, made an unnecessary challenge, and received a second caution, and consquently the red card.

The general feeling from both benches was that Diedhiou's dismissal was harsh, whilst Shinn's was thoroughly deserved.

The decisive moment came in the final minute of stoppage time. Casey Maclaren brought down an attacker on the right wing. Green stepped up and curled the ball into the box, where Laurencin and Chris Wild challenged for the ball. Wild just won the challenge and nodded the ball into the net from close range.

There was enough time for the Greens to have one final set piece, but Busby's free kick failed to test the Billericay defence.

"I felt that we were the better side tonight," said manager Gary McCann after the game. "However, whilst our back four and midfield were superb, we were lacking in the final third, and failed to really test their keeper."

HENDON: Laurencin, Diedhiou, K Maclaren (Dyer 86),Vargas, Parker, Busby, Burgess, O'Leary, C Maclaren, Thomas, Dean. Unused subs : Cousins, Reading.

STEVE ROGERS